University of Toronto Mississauga
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

In 2020, UTM published a sustainability strategic plan, entitled "Fostering a Culture of Sustainability 2030". The plan includes goals under 5 different pillars: Academics, Research, Community Engagement, Civic Engagement, and Facilities & Built Environment.

The goals in the Academics section of the plan include: by 2030, 30% of all students will have graduated across all disciplines with a sustainability certificate/minor; and by 2030, UTM will increase by 25% the number of faculty who self-identify as a leader in sustainability teaching and learning.

In 2020, UTM published a sustainability strategic plan, entitled "Fostering a Culture of Sustainability 2030". The plan includes goals under 5 different pillars: Academics, Research, Community Engagement, Civic Engagement, and Facilities & Built Environment.

The goals in the Engagement sections of the plan include: by 2025, internal collaborations will honour and celebrate environmental programs, events, camps, and initiatives helping to facilitate a culture of sustainability on campus; and by 2025, collaborations with neighbouring schools will encourage learning and sharing of experiences, helping to promote sustainability.

The University of Toronto's Low Carbon Action Plan was published in 2019 and lays out a roadmap for how we will lower our carbon emissions to meet our commitments as part of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3). We have committed to lowering our carbon footprint by 37% below 1990 levels by 2030. From energy-efficient buildings and carbon-capture schemes to forest management strategies and collaborations to test green technologies, the five-year plan aims to bring U of T 80 per cent closer to its 2030 target by the year 2024. The action plan lays out a multi-pronged approach that tackles energy from three angles –consuming less energy, producing cleaner energy and distributing that energy more efficiently.

In addition, UTM's Sustainability Strategic Plan, entitled "Fostering a Culture of Sustainability" includes sustainability objectives in various areas of operations, including food & dining, procurement, waste, and transportation. These objectives range from establishing best practices for on-campus food gardens to improving cycling infrastructure on campus.

In 2020, UTM published a sustainability strategic plan, entitled "Fostering a Culture of Sustainability 2030". The plan includes goals under 5 different pillars: Academics, Research, Community Engagement, Civic Engagement, and Facilities & Built Environment.

As part of the Facilities & Building Environment pillar, an sub-section for wellness & wellbeing is included. Goals in this section include: by 2021, UTM will introduce recognition awards for all UTM staff, faculty, librarians and students who showcase and outstanding commitment to sustainability; by 2025, UTM will continue to expand the sustainability dialogue through recruitment and on-boarding of students, staff, faculty, and librarians; and by 2021, UTM will establish a working group to explore best practices and create an action plan for priorities related to diversity, equity, inclusion, health and well-being.

The following statement appears in UTM's academic plan, page 7: "An institution that values and promotes Sustainability. The natural beauty of our campus is much admired. We are mindful that environmental awareness should guide our physical planning and be reflected in our pedagogy and scholarship. UTM recognizes that the environmental challenges facing the planet cannot be solved in isolation but require collaborations across all areas of research. We are cognizant that global environmental change is not simply a technical challenge
but includes scientific, political, cultural, economic and social aspects as well."

In addition, the University of Toronto is a signatory to the Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World pledge, 2009. The text of the pledge and list of signatories can be viewed at https://cou.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/COU-Exec-Heads-Green-Pledge.pdf

In our Academic Strategic Plan (i.e. highest guiding document), sustainability is referenced explicitly as part of the 'Identity' to which UTM aspires, on p7 ( i.e. [UTM aspires to be] "An institution that values and promotes Sustainability
• The natural beauty of our campus is much admired. We are mindful that environmental awareness should guide our physical planning and be reflected in our pedagogy and scholarship. UTM recognizes that the environmental challenges facing the planet cannot be solved in isolation but require collaborations across all areas of research. We are cognizant that global environmental change is not simply a technical challenge but includes scientific, political, cultural, economic and social aspects as well.") and in Goal #5 of 5, p16 ("Focus on transformation and innovation to create a sustainable and cohesive community....").

It is also noted implicitly in goal #4, p14, which is articulated as "Educate future leaders to be global citizens meeting complex challenges" and includes the following elaboration: "UTM must create leaders, educating students to be fully aware of their communities and able to actively engage in the challenges of creating an environmentally, politically and socially better world. We must ensure that UTM graduates globally competent students who have a heightened sense of social responsibility, can investigate the world, interact with a variety of audiences, weigh perspectives and take action."